Bobber



K. C. SIMPSON Sept. 9, 1952 BOBBEJRv Filed June 23, 1950 kfw/vf TH C. 50W/@50N JNVEN TOR.

HTTOIQ/VEY Patented Sept. 9, 1,952

UNITED STATES PATENT o-EFIHCE BOBBER Kenneth C. Simpson, Pasadena, Calif. Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,907

This invention relates to fishing bobbersl and more particularly relates to a fishing bobber with relation to which the fishing line may run freely or to which the line may be secured in fixed position.

The bobber of this invention has a clutch which, when engaged, prevents the free running of the bobber on the line. The clutch may be operated from the anglers position by line tension to fix the position of the bobber on the line, or, after a sh is hooked, to free it thereon and allow it and the bobber to run free relative to each other.

In one form of angling it is usual to attach a baited hook, a weight, and a bobber to the fishing line at fixed positions therealong. The distance on the fishing line from the baited hook to the fixed bobber is usually too great to permit the angler to cast the line with a modern shortY casting rod equipped with a line reel. It is desirable therefore to have a bobber which may be positioned adjacent to the sinker or hook for the cast, and can be secured in a fixed position the fish in close enough to the end of the pole to make easy the landing operation. Also, the bobber will offer some resistance when the line is drawn through the water when a fish is being drawn in, and this resistance, in addition to the pull of the fish, may interfere with the proper playing of the fish. It is thus an advantage to have the bobber loose on the line after the fish has taken the bait.

It is an object of the invention to providev an improved fishing bobber. f

It is another object of the invention to provide a shing bobber which is at times fixed to a fishing line and at times free to move on the line.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fishing bobber which may be secured on al fishing line at varying distances from a baited hoek, at the selection of the fisherman, either before or after the line is cast.

It is another object of the invention to provide a free running fishing bobber having a fishing line gripping arrangement which is operable from an anglers position to bind the bobber on thel line, and which is subsequently operable by the angler, after a sh'has struck, to release it to run free on the line.

These and other objectsl of the invention will become apparent from the followingA description 7 Claims. (Cl. I3-44.88)

Y 2 v of va. preferred embodiment thereof, and from the drawing illustrating the same in which:

Figure 1 is a medial longitudinal section through the bobber showing the parts in that position in which the fishing line can run freelythrough the bobber;

Figure 2 is a view of an upper portion only of the bobber, partly in section, showing the parts in that position in which the fishing lineis bound within -the bobber, fixing the position of the bobber on the line; and

Figure 3 is a top view of the bobber.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figure 1, the numeral ID designates a fishing bobber having a buoyant float II, typically molded from a suitable plastic material, and a ball and socket clutch I2. The ball of clutch I2 may be retained within rounded socket I3 formed in the upper end of the float II. As here shown, the upper end of the float includes a separate or detachable retainer ring I4, also of plastic, whose inside surface defines the upper end portion of socket I3, and whose lower end is removably seated in a countersink I4a in the upper end of the body of float II. Ring I4 has an annular groove I4b forv reception of an inwardly projecting lip portion I4c on the float, and the latter is readily sprung outwardly to permit assembly or disassembly of the ring and float body. i

'I'he buoyant float II is provided with an axial line receiving bore I5 leading from its lower end to the rounded socket I3. In practice,` this float body is preferably molded in two identical longitudinal halves, which are subsequently joined together along a meeting plane, as indicated at p in Figure 3. The two halves of the float body enclose a buoyancy chamber I9. The socket I3 of the float Il is formed, concentrically with bore I5, and spaced a short distance outside the latter, with an annular groove 2I, of rounded contour. The bore Y I5 vhas a curvilinear flare 30 at its end adjacent the socket I3 to form a juncture I3a with the inner edge of the aforementioned groove 2 I. The flare 30 at the upper end of bore I5 thus forms a depression or seat for a later described detent member.

The ball clutch assembly I2 consists of aball 22, also preferably of plastic, having a diametrical bore 23, and a tubular stem 24 extends through said bore from the lower surface of the ball to a level preferably well above the upper surface of the ball. The lower end of the tubular stem 24 has a ball shaped detent head 25, and above this head the stem 24 is provided with a laterally extending annular iiange 26. fg

The tubular stem- 24 is alined within the bore 23 of the ball 22 by means of the flange 26 at one end of the bore 23, and at the other end thereof illustratively by a ring nut 21, which threadedly engages the ball 22. The ring nut 21 also serves to retain a coiled spring 28 in adjusted compression against the flange 26, so as to urge the lower end 25 of the stem 24 in a downward direction. I v

As show n in Figure '1, a fishing line `34i's threaded through the tubular stem 24 and the axial bore I5, and in usual practice the end of the fishing line is provided at a suitable distance' beyond the pointed end of the oat ll with abaited hook or other lure, and is suitably weighted if necessary.

With the baited hook, the sinker, andthe bobber on the line, the bobberbengrun" down adjacent the hook, and its parts beingineth' unclutched position shown` in Figure l, the line is cast by 'the angler. After theparts.- land on the water-, -thebobber will Vfloat 2 and the weight.

andbaited hooi; will sink,since the partsE of thebobberl` are alined so that the line can Irun out through theAtubular-Vstemj24 ofthe clutch I2 and the axial bore I5 of the .float II. alinement isnnaintained by the action of the spring 28, whichrholdsg the detent Ahead-25 inF the sea ,t,3'l. It is essential-thatfthe bobber shall normallyA oat a substantially uprightfposition, rather than horiaontally or ina head down" position. This is-necessarysovthe operator of the oatvvwi-llbe able totrip the grippingmecha nismin thetop oi-the bobber by jerkings-onvthe line, as-presentlyY described. I In order to insure that the Ibobber shall *normal-lily be maintained-in @substantially upright 'position' inthe water or substantially thatof Figure l of the drawing, it is 'necessary that the center' of gravity-of the bobberbe disposed in the lower 'portion ofthe body or that of the-*pointed end, and, in the present; embodiment, thishas-been accomplished byf -i riaking thisend portion of the bobber solid, aSthQWn- The line can now bepulledupwardly'thr'ugh, or`-canbe allowed to pay out and sthrfzmgh the float` I I and thefclutch I2, untilthe baiteduhool: or `other lure reachesrar desired distance 'from the surfaeeofA the waterand the bobber. A

At this point the angler can give la 'sharp jerk on- -the 'lineandthe clutch I2 will be operatedtherebyfto bindt-he line withinthe bobbr, so than-the baie or @meritarey wiu be suspended thedesired distance Vfrom the surface 'of' .the water and the bobber.4 Y v Y u fbeseribingthe performance ofthe clutchfin more/detail; when the angler-jerks on the line 34 the tubular -stem 24 YVis; displacedl to1 ian 'angular position'w-ith respect to the axis of the iloat I I., as' shown invrigurez,theinerua of the matin the water beingvv sufficient 4to ,permit this action. In ythis'operationy the ball 22l is rotated' -in the' .socketV I3," and the-headvf25- ofthe tubular ster-n 2-4 leaves the `seat 39V againstj the vyieldingr resistance of spring23f-and-ridesinto fandelodges in the annular-groove 2I-,carrying vwith it the. line 28 which is clamped between -it yand the-wall of the groove. As shown-in-Figure 2, this binds the rline and: preventsits-iree running through the clutch I2. By 'meansof thenut 21,. thelcornpres'sive--force of the -sprir-ig 28maybe varied, which varies-the force of'vpull on `the-line-4 required to` unseat thehead 257' from theseat 3D.

Upon the `shftaking the baited liooln` acertai'nfdeg'reeo added `tension is applied to the line 34 below the bobber- I0. Thistensionlis however nsuicient to release the clutch, but is felt by the angler through the still engaged bobber. At the proper time the angler pulls back on the line in the normal way so as to set the hook, and upon this occurrence, the tension in the line becomes suicient to disengage the clutch of the bobber, so that the latter is freed to run down on the line toward the fish. Specically, the tautened line tends to straighten, from the upperA dvf the stem 24'to the bottom 'Send of the bobber,- and when the" tension becomes suicient, the stem 24 will be elevated slightly against the resistance of spring 28 as the detent head 25 rides back out of the groove 2l toward its central seat 311.1 The stem 24 thus returns to `its-`origihalposition alined with the bore I5. and the spring 28 forces it and its head 25 back to the initial position of Figure l, where the line 34 -is'aga-n'free to run through the bobber. The sherman, by keeping the line tight, will preven-t the bobber from again Vclutching the line asthe--shisplayed-andafter thesh has been pulled up closevto-thefbobber the sh may be furtherplayed and landed without inter-ference of the bobber.

The buoyant floatportion Il of thebobber II'I is shown in vthedrawing as a hollowbody formed by Vjoiningl twodmolded piecesf v From vthe foregoing it-will be seen that I havey providedv an improved shingbobber which is fully suitable to accomplish all: the` objects here-g.

inbefore-set forth.

While I have shown and described afpreferred: form'of my invention,vit'will be apparent-that modiiications'may be made therein withoutdeparting from thebroad featuresbmentioned herein. (-`Jonse'quently,'I-A do not'wishto befrestrictedl tothevparticularform or arrangement of partsA herein described and shown except aslimited by-rny claims.

I claim:

1-. A-shing bobber having upper and v,lower parts, each part having a straight yline'guide means for-freely receiving the fishing linewsaid partsbeing relativelyfmovableto ali-ne said-two guidemeansalong-fa` straight line or to relatively anglefsaid twol guide :meansfthe two'parts being shaped to y clampY the Aline therebetween when in`i'elatively angled position,Y and Vtorelease'ltheline f forlfree' relative movement of the float; and i line y`when the two parts arey inalined"` position, means onfc'me-of-v said parts engageable with the other@ part rto 'exertf 1afyielding restraint-'against relative' movement therebetween, said parts'bee ingbper'able' to move from said =alined, position-.to said angled position upon jerkingfthe': line Vfrom abbvewhen thebobber isiloating, Vand being operable to move from saidan'gled position to said alined-pos'itionpon exertion `of aA predetermined tension iin the line "exerted fro'nipoints-above'rand below'the'bobber. y Y

2.` A1-fishing bobber`l comprising: a-loat :having an upwardly open sphericalfsocket-at its upper'en'deand also having a central verticalA bore for"V the threading ofthe fish-ing line therethrough,

said bore opening centrally in the bottom c" i"s`r`aifdV sphericalsocket, there being a circularfgroo've formed in thesurface ofthe sphericallsocket surrounding the upper end of said bore; a vd'ei'ient seateat the Aupperyendof said bore in' said'float'; aball seated said socket, said' vballV ha'vlrga diametricalboreya 'tu'lmlar stern slida'bl'yn ed in said ball bore and yprojecting outwardly from the upper end of said bore and foririd'with' aMdetent-headvat-the lower. end a coild'spring omit:

surrounding said stem seated within said ball bore and arranged to engage said stem to urge said stem downwardly to seat said detent head alternatively in the upper end of said float bore or in said circular groove, the stem having a central vertical bore which is in alinement with the central vertical bore of the float when the detent head at the lower end of the stem is seated in the upper end of the float bore for free running of the fishing line through the float and ball, and which is at an angle to the central bore of the float when the detent head of the stem is seated in the said circular groove, whereby the line is frictionally bound between the head of the stem and the bottom surface of the circular groove.

3. A shing bobber as defined in claim 2, wherein said bore in said oat flares outwardly at its upper end to form a seat for said detent head.

4. A fishing bobber comprising: a oat having an upwardly open spherical socket at its upper end and also having a central vertical bore for the threading of the shing line therethrough, said bore opening centrally in the bottom of said spherical socket, there being a circular groove formed in the surface of the spherical socket surrounding the upper end of said bore; a detent seat at the upper end of said bore in said float; a ball seated in said socket, said ball having a diametrical bore; a tubular stern slidably mounted in said ball bore and projecting outwardly from the upper end of said bore and formed with a detent head at the lower end; spring means urging said tubular stem to move in said ball bore toward the surface of said spherical socket, whereby to yieldingly engage said detent head with the detent seat at the upper end of said iloat bore, or with said annular groove; a coiled spring surrounding said stern seated within said Vball bore and arranged to engage said stem to urge said stem downwardly to seat said detent head alternatively in the upper end of said float bore or in said circular groove, the stem having a central vertical bore which is in alinement withv the central vertical bore of the oat when the detent head at the lower end of the stem is seated in the upper end of the float bore for free running of the fishing line through the float and ball, and which is at an angle to the central bore of the float when the detent head of the stem is seated in the said circular groove, whereby the line is frictionally bound between the head of the stem and the bottom surface of the circular groove.

5. In a bobber, the combination of: a iloat body having a vertical line passage, a tubular stem mounted for universal movement in the upper portion of said float, said tubular stem projecting upwardly from the upper end of said bobber, and receiving and guiding the iishing line to said line passage in said iioat, spring pressed detent means releasably holding said stem either in a position alined with said line passage or in an angled position relative thereto, and means operable by movement of said stern to said angled position for binding said line against free running through said stem and line passage, said line being released for free movement relative to the bobber when said tubular stem is alined with said line passage in said float body.

' diametrcal bore, said spring being seated under 6. A fishing bobber adapted to run freely on a fishing line comprising in combination: a buoyant body portion and a ball clutch; said buoyant body portion having an axial bore and a socket with a circular groove in the lower portion thereof surrounding the upper end of said axial bore; said ball clutch consisting of a ball having a diametrical bore; a tubular stem slidably mounted in said ball bore, said stem having a, laterally extending annular ilange and a rounded lower end portion; said fishing linepassing through said tubular stem and axial bore; a spring in said ball bore surrounding said tubular stem; a shoulder in said ball bore seating the upper end of said spring, said spring acting under compression between said shoulder and said flange, said ball clutch being retained within said socket in said body portion for ball-and-socket movement therein, and said ball clutch and buoyant body portion being formed and related to provide for a' spring detent action of said rounded lower end seating alternatively in the upper end of said axial bore or said circular groove said lishing line being freely movable through said tubular stem and axial bore when said rounded lower end of the stem is seated in the upper end of said axial bore, and being constrained against relative movement when the stem is seated in said circular groove.

7. A iishing bobber adapted to run freely on a fishing line comprising in combination: a buoyant body portion and a ball clutch, said buoyant body portion having an axial bore and a socket with a circular groove in the lower portion thereof surrounding the upper end of said axial bore, said ball clutch consisting of a ball having a diametrical bore; a tubular'stem slidably mounted in said ball bore, said stem having a laterally extending annular angeand a rounded lower end portion; a spring in said ball bore surrounding said tubular stem; and a ring nut threadably engaging said ball so as to aline said stem in said compression between said ring nut and said ilange and said ball clutch being retained within said socket in said body portion for ball-and-socket movement therein, to be movable by a force apas to free said bobber to move on said line.

KENNETH C. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 878,362 Denning Feb. 4, 1908 1,122,359 Bissett Dec. 29, 1914 2,052,262 Walberg Aug. 25, 1936 2,316,074 Kimbrough Apr. 6, 1943 

